PETALING JAYA (March 12, 2007): Despite calls for a reform in the country's electoral system, some Barisan Nasional leaders say the country is performing well under the current First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system where a simple majority decides who wins an election.

They were responding to a statement last month by Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman that only the Barisan Nasional as the ruling coalition, and not the commission, could initiate electoral reform.

* Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said the country would not have developed so well and been economically progressive if it had chosen an inappropriate electoral system.

"Look at what PAS achieved in the 1990 elections. They won in Terengganu and Kelantan under the same system."

He said because of the current system, the government can deliver results.

Muhammad said a country can employ any type of electoral system, but it should not change because someone wants a change.

"We have achieved 50 years of independence with the system. Just because other countries' systems are different, we cannot simply follow their methods," he added.

* Gerakan secretary-general Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye said it was possible to initiate a reform, but the question was whether it was necessary. He said although there were calls for electoral reform by researchers and scholars, the system should not be changed for the sake of changing.

"Looking at the current situation, I do not see any problem in the First-Past-the-Post system.

"The country has conducted general elections 11 times without problem and everyone respected the results. So no reform is needed," he said.

There was no perfect system, Chia said, adding that the country inherited the present system which suited the country well.

He said a reform would only be needed if the current system discriminated against a certain group of people.

* MCA publicity bureau chief Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said there was no perfect electoral system, and any change required studies on the pros and cons.

He said the views of both ruling and opposition parties should be sought.

"The electoral system serves not just a political party but all," he said.

Fu said the current system served the country well, so there was no need for a reform.

MIC vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan, when contacted, declined to comment on the issue.

Non-governmental organisations such as the Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, academics and opposition parties have called for electoral reform, saying the current system is undemocratic and resulted in seat-vote disproportionality.

However, in a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia report on the electoral system, academics from its Institute of Malaysian and International Studies said "it is unlikely" that the Barisan Nasional would reform a system that it benefits from.